Becoming an empty nester can bring grief, loneliness, worry, pride, freedom, and possibility—sometimes all at once. Betty and Alex share what happened when their two sons moved out, why the experience affected both Mom and Dad, and how they learned that an empty nest does not mean the end of parenthood. It means learning to parent differently.

Together, we explore the emotional impact of children leaving home, marriage after the kids move out, maintaining a healthy relationship with adult children, and finding new purpose in midlife. We also talk about returning to old passions, creating new routines, traveling as a couple, and building a bucket list filled with the experiences that still light you up.

One of the episode’s most powerful reminders comes from Alex: Trust your children—and trust the foundation you spent years building. Like Mr. Miyagi’s “wax on, wax off” lessons in The Karate Kid, the small things parents teach every day become the tools their children carry into adulthood.

In This Episode, We Talk About

• The grief and identity shift that can accompany an empty nest
• Why fathers experience empty-nest emotions, too
• Letting adult children go without losing your connection
• Trusting the values and life skills you gave your children
• Preparing young adults for independent living
• Reconnecting with your spouse after the children move out
• Finding purpose, hobbies, freedom, and joy in midlife
• Creating a “What Lights Me Up?” bucket-list box
• Remembering that you never stop being a parent—your role simply changes

Resources Mentioned

• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
• Drink A Chair with Alex and Betty Pace
• The Karate Kid and the Mr. Miyagi “wax on, wax off” parenting analogy
• Pinterest as a digital place to collect bucket-list ideas
• “Eight Days a Week” by The Beatles

Join the WAYTA Conversation

What has been the hardest—and most surprising—part of watching your children become independent? If you are already an empty nester, what is beginning to light you up in this new chapter?

Share this episode with a parent who needs the reminder that an empty nest can hold both heartache and possibility.

Listen, connect, and find more tools: WAYTA.net

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Subscribe or follow WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT! with Tania & Marilyn wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a new conversation.

www.whatareyoutalkingabout.net/internet-presence

Change can feel uncomfortable, uncertain, and even frightening—but remaining stuck can cost us more than taking the first step. In this episode of What Are You Talking About!, Tania and Marilyn have an honest conversation about finding the courage to change, letting go of what no longer serves us, and moving forward even when we don’t have every answer.

Whether you’re considering a career change, navigating a personal transition, rebuilding your confidence, or simply recognizing that something in your life needs to shift, this episode is a reminder that courage doesn’t mean being fearless. Courage means listening to yourself, trusting what you know, and choosing to take the next right step.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Why change can feel so difficult—even when we know it’s necessary • How fear and uncertainty can keep us attached to familiar patterns • The difference between waiting to feel ready and choosing to move forward • Why small, intentional steps can create meaningful transformation • How self-trust grows each time we honor what we know needs to change • Why courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act despite it • How to recognize when you have outgrown a habit, situation, relationship, or version of yourself

YOUR WAYTA REFLECTION:

What is one change you know you need to make—and what is one small step you can take toward it today?

You don’t need to have the entire journey mapped out. Sometimes courage begins with simply admitting that you are ready for something different.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

What change are you finding the courage to make? Share your thoughts with us and connect with a community of women who are choosing clarity, courage, confidence, and purposeful growth.

If this episode speaks to you, please follow or subscribe to What Are You Talking About!, leave us a rating and review, and share this conversation with a woman who may need the reminder that she is capable of change.

CONNECT WITH WAYTA:

Website: https://www.wayta.net

Socials and community links: https://whatareyoutalkingabout.net/internet-presence

Instagram: @WAYTAOfficial

Facebook: What Are You Talking About! Podcast / WAYTAOFFICIAL

YouTube: @WAYTAOfficial

Hosted by Tania Magnan and Marilyn DiMayo.

What Are You Talking About! is a podcast and growing platform for women who know they are meant for more. Through real conversations, meaningful reflection, practical tools, and supportive resources, WAYTA helps women reconnect with their inner voice, gain clarity, build courage, and move forward with intention.

#TheCourageToChange #CourageToChange #PersonalGrowth #SelfTrust #LifeTransitions #WomenEmpoweringWomen #MeantForMore #WhatAreYouTalkingAboutThePodcast #WAYTAOfficial #TaniaAndMarilyn

What happens when the excitement fades and motivation disappears?

In Part 2 of our conversation with author, publisher, speaker, and Camino Press founder Laura Sanchez Ramirez, we explore how to keep moving forward—even when you feel uninspired, overwhelmed, or stuck in a rut.

Together, we share the simple practices that help us reconnect with ourselves: journaling, sketch-noting, vision boards, prayer, meditation, dancing, spending time in nature, and completing just one small task.

Sometimes staying on track doesn’t require changing your destination. It simply requires reconnecting with yourself.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Why lasting change requires more than motivation • Using journaling and creativity to rediscover your ideas • How one small action can help break a slump • Making time for yourself without guilt • Finding inspiration in nature and life’s smallest moments • Resisting fear and searching for the silver lining • Giving generously while still protecting your boundaries • Letting go of transactional relationships • Reconnecting with the playful, joyful part of yourself • Laura’s dream of creating a writing retreat

YOUR 2-MINUTE TOOL: WRITE IT DOWN

When an idea, dream, memory, or possibility comes to you, don’t let it disappear.

Take two minutes to write it in a notebook, type it into your phone, sketch it, or record a quick voice note. You thought of it for a reason. You don’t need to know exactly what it means or what you’ll do with it yet—just give it a place to live.

Then ask yourself:

“What have I been thinking about doing that I haven’t made time for yet?”

Your next step may already be waiting inside your answer.

REMEMBER YOU

Step outside. Sit near the water. Find your favorite tree. Pray, meditate, journal, move your body, or simply breathe.

Give yourself a few quiet moments to reconnect with who you are beneath the responsibilities, expectations, and noise. It doesn’t have to cost anything—but it does require you to make time for yourself.

SEVEN ON THE SPOT

Laura joins us for our signature quick-fire round and shares what is lighting her up, the habit she swears by, the person from her past she would love to speak with, and the big dream she is finally ready to say yes to.

Sometimes staying connected to your dreams isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing one thing, capturing one idea, and saying yes to yourself one more time.

Listen now, share this episode with a woman who needs this reminder, and join the conversation with WAYTA!

CONNECT WITH WAYTA!

Website: https://whatareyoutalkingabout.net Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & YouTube: @WAYTAOfficial

Listen, follow, share—and join the conversation!

#SayingYesToYourself #WhatAreYouTalkingAboutThePodcast #WAYTAOfficial #WomenWhoPodcast #RememberYOU

In Part 1 of this special two-part conversation, Tania and Marilyn welcome their first guest, bestselling author, life coach, speaker, and founder of The Camino Press, Laura Sanchez Ramirez.

Together, they explore what it means to choose yourself again—especially when fear, guilt, responsibilities, and the expectations of others have caused you to lose sight of who you are and what you truly want.

Laura shares her personal journey, the choices that changed the direction of her life, and why saying yes to yourself isn’t selfish. It’s an act of courage, self-trust, and permission to become more fully who you are.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Why women often lose themselves while caring for everyone around them
• How fear and guilt can keep you from pursuing what you truly want
• Why choosing yourself does not mean abandoning the people you love
• How one courageous “yes” can completely change the direction of your life
• Why clarity often begins with giving yourself permission
• How Laura turned her personal experiences into a life centered on purpose
• Why you don’t need to have everything figured out before taking your next step

Choosing yourself doesn’t always begin with a dramatic decision. Sometimes, it begins with one honest moment—recognizing what you want, believing that it matters, and giving yourself permission to say yes.

And that first yes may be only the beginning.

In Part 2, the conversation continues with practical ways to keep choosing yourself through boundaries, daily decisions, consistency, and the small promises that rebuild self-trust.

If this episode speaks to you, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today.

About Our Guest

Laura Sanchez Ramirez is a bestselling author, life coach, keynote speaker, podcast host, and the founder of The Camino Press Publishing Organization.

She is also the creator of the Coaching Academy for Midlifers and Coaching for Life Goals Academy, the host of Camino Con Propósito and Life With Purpose, and the visionary behind YogiDance.

Through her work, Laura helps people reconnect with their purpose, believe in what is possible, and recognize that their experiences and stories deserve to be shared.

Her message is simple but powerful: Anything is possible when you believe.

Connect With Us

Website: https://www.wayta.net Instagram: @waytaofficial Facebook: What Are You Talking About! Podcast YouTube: @WAYTAOfficial

That feeling isn't selfish. It isn't a lack of gratitude. And it certainly doesn't mean something is wrong with you.

In this episode of What Are You Talking About!, Tania and Marilyn explore the difference between chasing "more" and recognizing that you're being called to something greater. They discuss how our definition of success changes over time, why so many women settle for lives that no longer fit who they've become, and how to recognize the signs that you're ready for your next chapter.

Together, they discuss:

• How your definition of "more" naturally evolves throughout different seasons of life
• The subtle signs that you're outgrowing your current circumstances
• Why fear, guilt, and self-imposed limitations keep us from moving forward
• How to tell the difference between a temporary feeling and a deeper calling
• Why becoming more self-aware is the first step toward lasting change
• Practical ways to stop settling and begin trusting yourself again

You'll also discover a simple framework to help you evaluate whether the desire for more is simply a passing emotion—or an invitation to create a new direction for your life.

Whether you're navigating a career change, an empty nest, shifting relationships, or simply feeling that there's something more waiting for you, this conversation will encourage you to stop ignoring that inner nudge and begin listening to what it's been trying to tell you all along.

Because sometimes the life you're meant for doesn't begin with having all the answers—it begins with having the courage to acknowledge that you're ready for more.

If this episode speaks to you, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today.

Connect With Us

🌐 Website: https://www.wayta.net

📱 Instagram: @waytaofficial

📘 Facebook: What Are You Talking About! Podcast

▶️ YouTube: @WAYTAOfficial

In this episode of What Are You Talking About!, Tania and Marilyn explore what it means to reconnect with your inner voice and why learning to trust it is one of the most important steps toward living with purpose.

Together, they discuss:

• What your inner voice actually sounds like (and why it isn't always loud)
• Why we ignore our intuition—even when we know better
• How fear, self-doubt, and life's responsibilities can pull us out of alignment
• Signs that you're disconnected from yourself and your purpose
• Why saying "yes" to new experiences can open unexpected doors
• How small moments of courage create lasting life changes

You'll also be guided through a simple 2-minute reset exercise designed to help quiet the mental noise, reconnect with yourself, and hear the wisdom that's already within you.

Whether you're feeling stuck, questioning your next step, navigating a career change, or simply longing for more meaning, this conversation will encourage you to pause, listen, and begin trusting yourself again.

If this episode resonates with you, be sure to follow the podcast and share it with someone who may need this reminder today.

Connect With Us

🌐 Website: www.wayta.net

📸 Instagram: @waytaofficial

📘 Facebook: What Are You Talking About! Podcast

Welcome to the first episode of "What Are You Talking About?" a podcast designed for women who know they're meant for more and are ready to step into their true potential.

In this episode, hosts Tania and Marilyn share their journey of self-discovery, the power of trusting oneself, and the importance of reconnecting with your inner voice. This post will explore the key themes from their inspiring conversation, providing insights into how listeners can navigate change, seek alignment, and embrace their authentic selves.

Why Trusting Yourself is Key

One of the core messages of the podcast is the importance of self-trust. Tania shares how learning to trust oneself can lead to significant shifts in life. The hosts highlight that navigating change often requires questioning, growth, and the courage to listen to one's inner voice. This theme resonates deeply with many women who may feel stuck or uncertain about their direction. By trusting their instincts, listeners can begin to take steps toward the life they truly desire.

The Journey of Friendship: From Acquaintances to Co-Hosts

As the conversation unfolds, Tania and Marilyn reflect on their friendship and how it has evolved over the years. They recount the serendipitous moments that led them to collaborate on this podcast. Their story serves as a reminder of the power of connection and the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities, even when they feel uncertain. The hosts emphasize that their journey is a testament to the idea that when women support each other, incredible things can happen.

The Birth of the Podcast Name

A pivotal moment in the episode is when they discuss how they came up with the podcast's name. During a lively birthday celebration for Tania's sister, Patty, the exclamation "What are you talking about!" emerged amidst the laughter and conversation. This moment sparked the idea for their podcast, illustrating how inspiration can come from unexpected places. Tania and Marilyn emphasize that this phrase embodies the spirit of the show—encouraging women to speak up, share their stories, and embrace their voices.

Key Insights for Listeners

1. Reconnect with Your Inner Voice: The podcast encourages women to take time for introspection, allowing them to listen to their true desires and aspirations.

2. Trust the Process: Change is often nonlinear, and trusting oneself is crucial in navigating the journey.

3. Embrace Opportunities: Saying yes to new experiences can lead to meaningful connections and collaborations, as seen in Tania and Marilyn's journey.

4. Support Each Other: Women have the power to uplift and motivate one another, fostering a community where everyone can thrive.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

In wrapping up the episode, Tania and Marilyn invite listeners to reflect on their own journeys. They encourage women to ask themselves what they truly want and to trust their instincts. This podcast aims to be a resource for those seeking clarity and direction in their lives. To connect further, listeners are invited to engage with the hosts through social media and share their thoughts.

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Visit our website for more resources: www.WAYTA.net

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of "What Are You Talking About! -- The Podcast?

The podcast aims to support women to reconnecting with their inner voice, trusting themselves, and embracing their true potential through real conversations and shared experiences.

New Episodes. Every Season.

What Are You Talking About!™ was created as a bold wake-up call for women who know they’re meant for more — yet find themselves overthinking, over-giving, or quietly shrinking.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in transition, disconnected from your spark, or unsure of your next move… you’re not alone.

WAYTA helps women reconnect to their inner clarity, recalibrate their direction, and confidently step into what truly lights them up.

It’s part inspiration, part self-awareness, and part permission slip to pivot — with self-trust, intention, and while remaining rooted in your truth.

This is about reclaiming your inner self, and remembering who you’ve always been.

Reinvent Yourself | Get Ready to Pivot

https://whatareyoutalkingabout.net/